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Topic Review (Newest First)

03-10-2012 12:35 PM

flyingwelshman

Re: Is Mexico still safe for cruising?

Quote:

Originally Posted by travlineasy

Makes a sailor wonder where the U.S. stands in those ratings?

Gary

According to the article the US is very low on the ratings.

A Violence Rate (combined murder and assault) of 0.088 per 100,000 visitors (averaged over 11 years - 2000 to 2010), compared with the highest violence rate (Mainland China) of 7.759.

According to StasCan (Statistics Canada), Mainland China and Jamaica are higher risk than Mexico. I was surprised to see Japan and Australia() following closely behind!

03-10-2012 11:00 AM

svzephyr44

Re: Is Mexico still safe for cruising?

Quote:

Originally Posted by inshallamiami

Ok, where DO you check out of Mexico if you are heading to belize? Used to be Xcalak but no more. I hoped to mosey down the Mexican coast, stopping in Bahia ascencion and Bahia espirtu sancto(?) But not sure where to officially check out short of returning to Isla Mujeres. On someone's blog I read that they DIDN'T check out of Mexico, just kinda "showed up" in San Pedro. Not my first choice.

Any ideas?

Yes, it is not longer possible to check out at Xcalak. In addition (I think this is common knowledge) as of 1 year ago the Xcalak Port Captain was dying of cancer. She was very helpful to the four cruising boats that had arrived at Xcalak trying to check out to find that we could not - she had our passports run back up the coast - I forget the name of the town but it is a cruise ship port about 50 - 75 miles north. What most cruisers do is check out up north and then sail for a couple of days checked out of Mexico. I don't know what happens if you are stopped but apparently the Mexican Navy/Coast Guard leaves cruising boats alone (except for the recently reported potential piracy incidents I mentioned above.

03-10-2012 12:40 AM

inshallamiami

Re: Is Mexico still safe for cruising?

Quote:

Originally Posted by svzephyr44

I am no expert on Mexico but it seems that most of this advice concerns the western coast. The Yucatan is a different place (the eastern side.) There have been a couple of piracy incidents in the last couple of months - boats being shadowed by what appeared to be Mexican Navy vessels that disappeared when the on-shore support people of several cruiser nets contacted the Mexican Navy. If you travel around on shore away from downtown Cancun expect to see truckloads of Mexican Army personnel - all armed and not very friendly (my sense is they are under a lot of pressure, its not about you.) Like anywhere there are safe places (Isla Mujeres being one.) Lots of boats around, again, previous advice. Don't go off to deserted places and anchor. Talk to the locals about what is safe and what is not. Federal Officials - customs, immigration, etc. are very pleasant and helpful. If you are heading south to Belize check for where you can clear out of Mexico. There are no real good choices. From a sailing standpoint the current in the Yucatan Channel is a constant problem if you are heading south. It is true but not well publicized that the State Department has removed all Peace Corps volunteers from Honduras and Guatemala. Yet my sense is that the Honduran Islands are still about as safe as they ever were.

Hope this helps.

Ok, where DO you check out of Mexico if you are heading to belize? Used to be Xcalak but no more. I hoped to mosey down the Mexican coast, stopping in Bahia ascencion and Bahia espirtu sancto(?) But not sure where to officially check out short of returning to Isla Mujeres. On someone's blog I read that they DIDN'T check out of Mexico, just kinda "showed up" in San Pedro. Not my first choice.

Any ideas?

03-09-2012 10:34 PM

jvfocha

Re: Is Mexico still safe for cruising?

We cruised the west coast of Mexico from 07-09 and felt safe the entire time. We even had an article in Lat. 38 about how a port captain and his wife drove us 40 miles to a bank after we ran low on money. The violence in Mexico is almost always drug related, unlike here where it is often random. The local news has a report almost every other night here on a new murder. Not far from our house they are looking for 30+ bodies in some wells from a pair of serial killers.

Like anywhere you can get in trouble if your in the wrong place at the wrong time. But the Sea of Cortez is stunning and shouldn't be missed. We never locked our boat while sleeping and were never concerned about our safety. I wouldn't worry about a rare shooting in Cabo, that's a daily occurrence here in most large and medium cities. You can be sure if cruisers start to be a target we would be the first to leave. I was more concerned about our safety the last time we anchored in San Francisco than we ever were in Mexico. We heard gunshots that night and the next morning the news said it was a fatal shooting not far from us

If you use common sense you should have a wonderful and safe time. We know nothing about the east coast.

We are preparing to return to Mexico and further this fall.

03-09-2012 10:24 PM

RatHatDiver

Re: YES,Mexico is safe

Quote:

Originally Posted by whosedream

Yes, Mexico is safe for cruising, surfing and living.
Based on my personal experiences as well as conversations with ex-pats, locals, sailors & surfers. I have never felt in danger anywhere I have traveled in Mexico.

It's no more & no less dangerous than many large US cities and certain Caribbean areas. It seems to me that US media outlets seem to play up violence and crime in Mexico while ignoring homegrown troubles. Mexico has a lower overall crime & murder rate than USA... Hmmm
Of course, those stats are different if your in the cartel business

I've been commuter cruising since November in the Sea of Cortez. Previously, I had/have visited Mexico for surfing (Baja and mainland) 5 to 10 times yearly for the past several years. I have never felt in danger anywhere i have traveled in Mexico.

Don't let the spectacular coverage of a few isolated incidents deter you from cruising and enjoying Mexico.

Plus 2 on that. I would walk threw the streets of any border town before I would walk around in my old home town Oakland, CA

03-09-2012 08:52 PM

travlineasy

Re: Is Mexico still safe for cruising?

If you want to get a glimpse of Detroit, check out Tru-TV's Hardcore Pawn, which is located in Detroit's 8-Mile. I, personally, have not been there in more than 40 years, and I don't think I would venture inside the city limits.

That said, I have a good friend and fellow entertainer who resides in Cozumel, Mexico. He has been there for more than 35 years and originally from northern New Jersey. I asked him if it was safe for me to visit while on my 7-month sojourn to the south. He told me a lot has changed since the hurricane devastated the island, tourism is way down, especially in the current economy, and crime seems to be escalating at a horrendous rate. He pretty much said even a short visit, at least in his part of the country, was not a safe thing to do under the current circumstances.

All the best,

Gary

03-09-2012 06:27 PM

zeta

Re: Is Mexico still safe for cruising?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanduskysailor

If you think Mexico is as safe, I dare anyone to drive their new Escalade down to the San Carlos Yacht Club from Arizona some afternoon/evening. I'll drive one to the Bayview Yacht Club from Ohio anytime.

Total hyperbole, I drive to San Carlos!

02-27-2012 02:04 PM

Sanduskysailor

Wow guys. Picking on Detroit! Are you all serious? Among other things the biggest difference between Detroit and Mexico is that in Detroit law enforcement and the judicial system is not intimidated/owned by organized crime. I'm not from Detroit but travel there a lot on business. There are some areas I'm not comfortable in when in Detroit but at no time did I think that law enforcement would not assist me. BTW- Bayview Yacht Club is not in the best of areas of Detroit and there many members who drive through the getto to hang out there regularly. If you think Mexico is as safe, I dare anyone to drive their new Escalade down to the San Carlos Yacht Club from Arizona some afternoon/evening. I'll drive one to the Bayview Yacht Club from Ohio anytime.

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